Slip hub take-up reel without slip ring

Abstract

A take-up spool may include a first plurality of rollers arranged in a left handed helical pattern, a second plurality of rollers below the first plurality of rollers and arranged in a right handed helical pattern, a third plurality of rollers arranged in an S-shaped pattern, the third plurality of rollers being arranged between the first and second plurality of rollers, a guide configured to move vertically, the guide being arranged at a first side of the first plurality of rollers, and a clamp configured to move vertically, the clamp being arranged at a second side of the first plurality of rollers.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A take-up reel comprising:
 a first plurality of supporting members arranged in a left handed helical pattern; 
 a second plurality of supporting members below the first plurality of supporting members and arranged in a right handed helical pattern; and 
 a third plurality of supporting members arranged in an S-shaped pattern, the third plurality of supporting members being arranged between the first and second plurality of supporting members. 
 
     
     
       2. The take-up reel according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a guide configured to move vertically, the guide being arranged at a first side of the first plurality of supporting members; and 
 an anchor configured to move vertically, the anchor being arranged at a second side of the first plurality of supporting members. 
 
     
     
       3. The take-up reel according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an upper support structure above the first plurality of supporting members; 
 a lower support structure below the second plurality of supporting members; 
 a rotatable shaft connected to a bottom of the lower support structure; and 
 a plurality of reel shafts connected to the upper and lower support structures, the plurality of reel shafts penetrating the first, second, and third pluralities of supporting members. 
 
     
     
       4. The take-up reel according to  claim 3 , wherein the upper and lower support structures are plates. 
     
     
       5. The take-up reel according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a first threaded member connected to the guide; 
 a second threaded member connected to the anchor; and 
 a drive shaft operatively connected to the first threaded member, the second threaded member, and the rotatable shaft. 
 
     
     
       6. The take-up reel according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a first belt connecting the first threaded member to the drive shaft; 
 a second belt connecting the second threaded member to the drive shaft; and 
 a third belt connecting the rotatable shaft to the drive shaft. 
 
     
     
       7. The take-up reel according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the drive shaft includes a first sprocket, a second sprocket, and a third sprocket, 
 the first threaded member includes a fourth sprocket, 
 the second threaded member includes a fifth sprocket, 
 the rotatable shaft includes a sixth sprocket, and 
 the first belt is connected to the first sprocket and the fourth sprocket, the second belt is connected to the second sprocket and the fifth sprocket, and the third belt is connected to the sixth sprocket and the third sprocket. 
 
     
     
       8. The take-up reel according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 one of a motor, a hand crank, and a spring mechanism to drive the drive shaft. 
 
     
     
       9. The take-up reel according to  claim 5 , wherein the first guide is configured to move upwards when the anchor moves downwards. 
     
     
       10. The take-up reel according to  claim 9 , wherein the first threaded member includes one of left handed threads and right handed threads and the second threaded member the other of the left handed threads and the right handed threads. 
     
     
       11. The take-up reel according to  claim 3 , wherein the upper and lower support structures include a ring and spokes. 
     
     
       12. The take-up reel according to  claim 2 , wherein the anchor is a clamp. 
     
     
       13. The take-up reel according to  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third pluralities of supporting members are rollers. 
     
     
       14. The take-up reel according to  claim 13 , wherein the first plurality of rollers, the second plurality of rollers, and the third plurality of rollers include bearings. 
     
     
       15. The take-up reel according to  claim 13 , wherein the third plurality of rollers is configured to change a direction of cable wrap from right handed to left handed. 
     
     
       16. The take-up reel according to  claim 15 , wherein the third plurality of rollers is arranged at mid height with respect to the first plurality of rollers and the second plurality of rollers. 
     
     
       17. The take-up reel according to  claim 1 , wherein the each of the rollers in the first, second, and third plurality of rollers has flat top and bottom portions and a tapered middle portion. 
     
     
       18. The take-up reel according to  claim 1 , wherein the guide includes a first roller and a second roller configured to guide a cable. 
     
     
       19. The take-up reel according to  claim 1 , wherein the supporting members are configured to support a cable, the guide is configured to guide the cable, and the anchor is configured to clamp the cable. 
     
     
       20. The take-up reel according to  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third pluralities of supporting members are driven by a driving mechanism.